Fan assembly

ABSTRACT

A fan assembly includes a rack, a shield, and a fan. The rack defines a first vent opening and a second vent opening aligned with the first vent opening. The shield is mounted in the rack and aligned with the first vent opening. The shield defines a circular opening corresponding to the first vent opening. A plurality of shielding pieces are pivotally mounted in the circular opening. The plurality of shielding pieces together form a circular shield in themselves to cover the circular opening by gravity. The fan is mounted in the rack and aligned with the second vent opening and the shield. The fan blows air towards the plurality of shielding pieces and rotates the shielding pieces to define an air passage between each two adjacent shielding pieces. The air passage allows air to flow therethrough only when the fan is operating.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to fan assemblies, and more particularly to a fan assembly in an electronic device for dissipating heat from the electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

In a working electronic device, efficient heat-dissipating devices are desirable.

A fan may be used as a means of dissipating the heat from the electronic device. A number of fans may be mounted on a rack, and a plurality of through holes is defined in the rack for venting air. However, dust and other contaminants may enter the electronic device via the plurality of through holes if no air filtering process is applied.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded and isometric view of a fan assembly of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but viewed from another aspect.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a shield cover of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is another assembled view of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a fan assembly in accordance with an embodiment which includes a rack 20, a fan 30, and a shield 40.

The rack 20 includes a first side wall 21 and a parallel second side wall 23. After the rack 20 is mounted in an electronic device, the second side wall 23 is located in the electronic device, and the first side wall 21 is located outside of the electronic device. A plurality of partitions 25 are secured between the first side wall 21 and the second side wall 23 to form a plurality of receiving rooms 27 in the rack 20. Each of the plurality of receiving rooms 27 is adapted to receive a fan 30 and a shield 40. The first side wall 21 defines a first vent opening 211 and a notch 213 corresponding to each of the plurality of receiving rooms 27. The notch 213 is located above the first vent opening 211. The second side wall 23 defines a second vent opening 231 corresponding to each of the plurality of receiving rooms 27. The first vent opening 211 is aligned to the second vent opening 231. Each of the plurality of partitions 25 forms a limiting piece 251 separating the corresponding receiving room 27 into a fan receiving room (not labeled) and a shield receiving room (not labeled). A distance between the second side wall 23 and the limiting piece 251 is larger than that between the first side wall 21 and the limiting piece 251. The fan receiving room is located adjacent to the second side wall 23. The shield receiving room is located adjacent to the first side wall 21. Each of the plurality of partitions 25 defines a mounting hole 253.

The fan 30 includes a shell 31 and a group of blades (not labeled) rotatably mounted in the shell 31. The shell 31 includes a side plate 34. An elastic piece 35 is located on the side plate 34. A protrusion 351 is formed on the elastic piece 35.

FIGS. 2 and 3, show the shield 40 which includes a frame 41. A top portion of the frame 41 extends upward to form a lock 43. The lock 43 includes a connection piece 431, a bent piece 432, and a handle 433. The connection piece 431 is connected to the frame 41. The bent piece 432 is perpendicularly connected to a top portion of the connection piece 431. The handle 433 is perpendicularly connected to the bent piece 432. A tab 435 is formed on a connection portion of the bent piece 432 and the connection piece 431. A center portion of the frame 41 is hollow to define a circular opening 418. A plurality of parallel pivot shafts 413 is pivotally mounted in the circular opening 418. Each of the plurality of pivot shafts 413 is located diagonally in the circular opening 418. Each of the plurality of pivot shafts 413 secures a shielding piece 46. The shielding piece 46 includes a securing portion 467 and a free portion 468. The securing portion 467 is secured on a corresponding pivot shaft 413. The shielding piece 46 is adapted to rotate together with the corresponding pivot shaft 413. The shielding piece 46 includes a first side face 461 and a second side face 462. Between every two adjacent shielding pieces 46, the second side face 462 of the free portion 468 of one shielding piece 46 is located on the first face 461 of the securing portion 467 of the other shielding piece 46. Opposite ends of each shielding piece 46 is arc-shaped corresponding to the diameter of the circular opening 418. All of the shielding pieces 46 mounted on the plurality of pivot shafts 413 can form a circular shield to cover the entire circular opening 418.

FIGS. 1 to 5, show the device assembled, that the fan 30 is placed into the fan receiving room of the receiving room 27. The elastic piece 35 is bent by the partition 25. The fan 30 is moved until the protrusion 351 is aligned to the mounting hole 253. The elastic piece 35 rebounds to insert the protrusion 351 in the mounting hole 253 mounting the fan 30 in the receiving room 27. In this position, the fan 30 is aligned to the second vent opening 231.

The shield 40 is placed into the shield receiving room of the receiving room 27. The second side plate 462 of each of the plurality of shielding pieces 46 faces the fan 30. The tab 435 of the shield 40 is locked in the notch 213 of the rack 20 mounting the shield 40 in the receiving room 27. In the receiving room 27, the limit 251 separates the shield 40 from the fan 30. In this position, the first side face 461 of each of the plurality of shielding pieces 46 faces the first vent opening 211.

When the fan assembly is mounted on the electronic device and the fan 30 is working, the fan 30 rotates to suck air into the fan 30 via the second vent opening 231. Air flows through the fan 30 and towards to second side faces 462 of the plurality of shielding pieces 46 of the shield 40. Each of the plurality of shielding pieces 46 are subjected to air pressure and rotate in the circular opening 418. Therefore, an air passage 80 (referring to FIG. 5) is defined between every two adjacent shielding pieces 46. Air flows out of the rack 20 via the air passages 80.

If the fan 30 does not rotate, simple gravity causes the plurality of shielding pieces 46 to fall back and shield the air passages 80 and the frame opening 418. Therefore, dust and other contaminants cannot enter into the electronic device via the first and second vent openings 211 and 213 of the rack 20.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A fan assembly, comprising: a rack defining a first vent opening and a second vent opening aligned to the first vent opening; a shield mounted in the rack and aligned to the first vent opening, the shield defining a circular opening corresponding to the first vent opening, a plurality of shielding pieces pivotally mounted in the circular opening, opposite ends of each of the plurality of shielding piece arc-shaped, the plurality of shielding pieces together forming a circle to shield the circular opening by gravity; and a fan mounted in the rack and aligned to the second vent opening and the shield; the fan adapted to drive air blowing towards the plurality of shielding pieces to rotate the plurality of shielding pieces to define an air passage between each two adjacent shielding pieces of plurality of shielding pieces, and the air passage adapted to have air flowing therethrough.
 2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein a plurality of pivot shafts are pivotally mounted in the circular opening, each of the plurality of pivot shafts is located diagonally in the circular opening, the plurality of pivot shafts are parallel with each other, and each of the plurality of shielding pieces is secured to each of the plurality of pivot shafts.
 3. The fan assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of shielding pieces includes a securing portion and a free portion, and the securing portion is mounted on corresponding pivot shaft.
 4. The fan assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of shielding pieces includes a first side and a second side, the first side faces to the first vent opening, the second side faces to the fan, and between each two adjacent shielding pieces of plurality of shielding pieces, the second side face of the free portion of one shielding piece is located on the first face of the securing portion of the other shielding piece.
 5. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the fan comprises a side plate, an elastic piece is located on the side plate, a protrusion is formed on the elastic piece, the rack defines a mounting hole, and the elastic piece is adapted to be elastically bent by the rack to mount the protrusion in the mounting hole.
 6. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the rack defines a notch which is located above the first vent opening, the shield comprises a lock, the lock comprises a connection piece, a bent piece, and a handle, the connection piece is connected to the shield, the bent piece is perpendicularly connected to a top portion of the connection piece, the handle is perpendicularly connected to the bent piece, a tab is formed on a connection portion of the bent piece and the connection piece, the bent piece is adapted to be elastically bent by the rack to mount the tab in the notch, and the handle is adapted to be pulled to bent the bent piece to move the tab out of the notch.
 7. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the rack comprises a limiting piece which separates the shield from the fan.
 8. A fan assembly, comprising: a rack comprising a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall defining a first vent opening, the second side wall defining a second vent opening which is aligned to the first vent opening; a fan mounted between the first side wall and the second side wall, the fan aligned to the second vent opening; a shield mounted between the fan and the first side wall, the shield defining a circular opening aligned to the fan and the first vent opening, a plurality of shielding pieces pivotally mounted in the circular opening, opposite ends of each of the plurality of shielding piece arc-shaped, the plurality of shielding pieces together forming a circle to shield the circular opening by gravity; wherein the fan is adapted to drive air blowing towards the plurality of shielding pieces to rotate the plurality of shielding pieces to uncover the shielding opening.
 9. The fan assembly of claim 8, wherein a plurality of pivot shafts are pivotally mounted in the circular opening, each of the plurality of pivot shafts is located diagonally in the circular opening, the plurality of pivot shafts are parallel with each other, and each of the plurality of shielding pieces is secured to each of the plurality of pivot shafts.
 10. The fan assembly of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of shielding pieces includes a securing portion and a free portion, and the securing portion is mounted on corresponding pivot shaft.
 11. The fan assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of shielding pieces includes a first side and a second side, the first side faces to the first vent opening, the second side faces to the fan, and between each two adjacent shielding pieces of plurality of shielding pieces, the second side face of the free portion of one shielding piece is located on the first face of the securing portion of the other shielding piece.
 12. The fan assembly of claim 8, wherein the fan comprises a side plate, an elastic piece is located on the side plate, a protrusion is formed on the elastic piece, the rack defines a mounting hole, and the elastic piece is adapted to be elastically bent by the rack to mount the protrusion in the mounting hole.
 13. The fan assembly of claim 8, wherein the rack defines a notch which is located above the first vent opening, the shield comprises a lock, the lock comprises a connection piece, a bent piece, and a handle, the connection piece is connected to the shield, the bent piece is perpendicularly connected to a top portion of the connection piece, the handle is perpendicularly connected to the bent piece, a tab is formed on a connection portion of the bent piece and the connection piece, the bent piece is adapted to be elastically bent by the rack to mount the tab in the notch, and the handle is adapted to be pulled to bent the bent piece to move the tab out of the notch.
 14. The fan assembly of claim 8, wherein the rack comprises a limiting piece which separates the shield from the fan. 